Simplified and energy efficient multi temperature unit

• US 10,365,027 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Koppineedi, Srinivasa Rao
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkisson, Jianying C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwarzenberg, Paul S
• Application Number:
  US15/056,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20170248359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 62419
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/003 Transport containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/02 for circulating liquids, e.g. brine
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/045 Air flow control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0682 Two or more fans

Abstract

Methods and systems for an energy efficient MTRS are provided. In one embodiment, a refrigerated transport unit is provided that includes a multi-zone transport unit and an energy efficient MTRS. The multi-zone transport unit includes an internal space separated into a first zone and a second zone. The internal space includes a zone separator separating and thermally isolating the first zone and the second zone. The energy efficient MTRS is configured to control and maintain a separate environmental condition requirement of each of the first zone and the second zone. The energy efficient MTRS includes a remote fan unit provided between the first zone and the second zone. The remote fan unit is configured to provide a heat exchange between the first zone and the second zone for providing climate control within the second zone.

Claims

1. A refrigerated transport unit comprising:

a multi-zone transport unit including an internal space separated into a first zone and a second zone, wherein the internal space including a zone separator separating and thermally isolating the first zone and the second zone;

an energy efficient multi-zone transport refrigeration system (MTRS) configured to control and maintain a separate environmental condition requirement of each of the first zone and the second zone, the MTRS including;

a remote fan unit provided between the first zone and the second zone, the remote fan unit configured to provide a heat exchange between the first zone and the second zone for providing climate control within the second zone,

wherein the remote fan unit is a fan coil unit that includes within a single remote fan unit housing;

a first portion provided in the first zone and a second portion provided in the second zone,

a heat exchange circuit including a pump and a first zone heat exchanger provided in the first zone, and a second zone heat exchanger provided in the second zone, and

a partition separating the first portion from the second portion within the remote fan unit housing,

wherein the pump is configured to circulate a fan coil heat exchanger fluid from the first zone to the second zone via the heat exchange circuit;

wherein the first zone heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between air in the first zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the first zone heat exchanger; and

wherein the second zone heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between air in the second zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the second zone heat exchanger.

2. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 1, wherein the MTRS further includes a host unit configured to provide climate control within the first zone, wherein the remote fan unit is isolated from the host unit.

3. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 1, further comprising a host unit separate from, independent of, and isolated from the fan coil unit, wherein the host unit is configured to provide climate control within the first zone, and wherein the host unit includes a host heat exchanger circuit for directing a host heat exchange fluid that is separate from, independent of, and isolated from the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid.

4. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a first zone heat exchange fan configured to blow air from the first zone over the first zone heat exchanger, and wherein the second portion includes a second zone heat exchange fan configured to blow air from the second zone over the second zone heat exchanger.

5. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 1, wherein the fan coil unit includes an electric heater positioned adjacent to the second zone heat exchanger, wherein the electric heater is configured to heat the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the second zone heat exchanger in order to provide heating to the second zone.

9. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 1, wherein the first portion is thermally isolated via the partition from the second portion within the remote fan unit housing.

11. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 1, wherein the pump is a variable speed pump that can provide temperature control for the fan coil unit by controlling a flow of the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the heat exchange circuit.

13. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 1, wherein the first portion includes a first zone heat exchange fan configured to pull the air in the first zone over the first zone heat exchanger to facilitate a heat exchange between the air in the first zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the first zone heat exchanger,

and the second portion includes a second zone heat exchange fan configured to blow air from the second zone over the second zone heat exchanger to facilitate a heat exchange between the air in the second zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the second zone heat exchanger.

14. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 13, wherein the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan are each run by a separate motor.

15. The refrigerated transport unit of claim 13, wherein a controller is configured to operate the remote fan unit in:

a NULL mode by turning off the pump, the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan,

a Running NULL mode by turning off the pump and continuing to operate at least one of the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan, and

a COOL mode by operating the pump and at least one of the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan.

6. An energy efficient multi-zone transport refrigeration system (MTRS) configured to control and maintain a separate environmental condition requirement of each of a first zone and a second zone within an interior space of a transport unit, the MTRS including:

a host unit configured to provide climate control within the first zone, wherein the host unit includes a host heat exchanger circuit for directing a host heat exchange fluid;

a remote fan unit provided between the first zone and the second zone, wherein the remote fan unit is separate from, independent of, and isolated from the host unit, and wherein the remote fan unit is configured to provide a heat exchange between the first zone and the second zone for providing climate control within the second zone,

wherein the remote fan unit is a fan coil unit that includes within a single remote fan unit housing;

a first portion provided in the first zone and a second portion provided in the second zone,

a heat exchange circuit including a pump and a first zone heat exchanger provided in the first zone, and a second zone heat exchanger provided in the second zone, wherein the heat exchange circuit providing thermal communication between the first portion and the second portion, and

a partition separating the first portion from the second portion within the remote fan unit housing,

wherein the pump is configured to circulate a fan coil heat exchanger fluid from the first zone to the second zone via the heat exchange circuit;

wherein the first zone heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between air in the first zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the first zone heat exchanger, the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid is separate from, independent of, and isolated from the host heat exchanger fluid; and

wherein the second zone heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between air in the second zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the second zone heat exchanger.

7. The MTRS of claim 6, wherein the first portion includes a first zone heat exchange fan configured to blow air from the first zone over the first zone heat exchanger, and wherein the second portion includes a second zone heat exchange fan configured to blow air from the second zone over the second zone heat exchanger.

8. The MTRS of claim 6, wherein the fan coil unit includes an electric heater positioned adjacent to the second zone heat exchanger, wherein the electric heater is configured to heat the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the second zone heat exchanger in order to provide heating to the second zone.

10. The MTRS of claim 6, wherein the first portion is thermally isolated via the partition from the second portion within the remote fan unit housing.

12. The MTRS of claim 6, wherein the pump is a variable speed pump that can provide temperature control for the fan coil unit by controlling a flow of the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the heat exchange circuit.

16. The MTRS of claim 6, wherein the first portion includes a first zone heat exchange fan configured to pull the air in the first zone over the first zone heat exchanger to facilitate a heat exchange between the air in the first zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the first zone heat exchanger,

and the second portion includes a second zone heat exchange fan configured to blow air from the second zone over the second zone heat exchanger to facilitate a heat exchange between the air in the second zone and the fan coil unit heat exchanger fluid passing through the second zone heat exchanger.

17. The MTRS of claim 16, wherein the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan are each run by a separate motor.

18. The MTRS of claim 16, wherein a controller is configured to operate the remote fan unit in:

a NULL mode by turning off the pump, the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan,

a Running NULL mode by turning off the pump and continuing to operate at least one of the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan, and

a COOL mode by operating the pump and at least one of the first zone heat exchange fan and the second zone heat exchange fan.